Mildred’s rush toward a playoff berth, maybe even a district title, began with thoughts of change after a poor overall performance on a damp field in Wortham.

That was Week 3, and the Eagles had scored nine points in 12 quarters of football, and had given up almost 800 yards rushing in two games. Going 0-10 looked more realistic than a playoff berth.

This was a team devastated by highly-publicized transfers, a key injury and a lack of both depth and proven playmakers.

A quick history lesson: All-state safety and starting quarterback Thomas McDonald, along with his brother Tevin Appleton, a two-way starter, moved to Corsicana after practicing on Day 1 with the Eagles. In that loss to Wortham, All-Golden Circle linebacker and starting running back Kevin Dozier was lost for the year in the first quarter to a knee injury.

Dozier’s injury left the Eagles without a player on the roster who had attempted either a rush or a pass, or received a pass on the varsity level in 2008. After starting over on the second day of two-a-days, the Eagles started over again.

What they did: Freshman quarterback Nic Shimonek, for all of his upside, was replaced with sophomore Daniel Folsom, who gives the Eagles more of a running threat. The Eagles had hoped to be balanced in 2009, but to do so could have meant disaster. Shimonek has still played in every game.

The philosophy became ball control via the rush, and field position. Right tackle Payton Weaver, a 220-pound bruiser, moved to running back, and the line started to take shape, with two freshmen starters.

Somehow, it’s worked.

The fact the Eagles are a plus-17 in turnovers their last six games helps, a great deal. So has the emergence of players like seniors Clay Harrell and Trevor Owen, junior Rody Seilheimer and sophomores Daniel Donoho and Logan Shelton. Owen was the only one in that group on the preseason All-Golden team, and that was as a kicker, where he’s been solid.

Going into the season finale against Rice (1-8, 0-5 in District 14-2A) Friday, Mildred is 5-4, 4-1 in district and stands ready to win its second straight league championship.

The Eagles were not specifically thinking playoffs when the moves were made, coach Patrick Harvell said.

“I hate to be cliché, but I’m one of those guys that focuses on the next week,” he said. “Did I think we were better than what we were showing at the first of the year? I did. Did I believe we could make a splash in the district race? Yeah, I did.”

Harvell knew his kids were young and inexperienced. Still, few would have put the Eagles in this position after a Week 5, 35-17 loss to Malakoff in the district opener.

Ironically, Mildred ran 64 plays to Malakoff’s 48 in that game, and was a plus-2 in turnovers. It was a sign of things to come.

Since that game, the Eagles have won four straight, beating preseason district favorites Kerens and Edgewood along the way, both by 17-14 scores.

From a pure numbers standpoint, there are three pivotal reasons for the turnaround:

Turnovers: In an 0-3 start, the Eagles lost the turnover battle every time. Since then, they have had one game where they failed to force at least three, and they have been at least a plus-2 in each, including plus-4 two times. Mildred has three turnovers in district.

Ball hogging: In the first three games, Mildred’s opponents averaged 45.3 plays per game, the Eagles 43.7. Since the district opener, Mildred has run 55.8 plays per game, its opponents, 45.6. In 18 scoring drives in district, seven have needed seven plays or more, and a 21-play drive ended inside the Kerens 5.

Strong second halves defensively: Mildred led 10-0 at the half against Malakoff, and was blitzed for 21 third-quarter points, and 14 fourth-quarter points. Since then, they have given up a touchdown with less than two minutes left in a 40-13 win over Scurry-Rosser, and two touchdowns in the last four minutes of a 31-13 win over Blooming Grove. The Eagles did not allow a second-half point to either Kerens or Edgewood.

More impressive is Mildred won the Kerens game without Folsom. The Eagles still managed to stick to the plan with Shimonek, who ran for a season-high 65 yards and had a stellar passing night. Shimonek, like the team, has gotten better. He had eight interceptions in 70 non-district attempts, and has only one in 43 district attempts.

As well, the Eagles ran 17 more plays than the Bobcats and did not turn the ball over.

“Our kids have bought into to the fact we have to outplay the team we’re playing,” Harvell said. “If it was decided on paper, we’d probably lose a couple of the games we’ve won. …

“We’ve played good, hard-nosed football and the kids have done a good job of taking care of the football, and defensively a good job of forcing a few.”



Playoff Chase

They’re in

• Kerens

• Dawson

Win and they’re in

• Corsicana (vs. Cleburne)

• Mildred (at Rice); would also be in with a loss and a Malakoff win over Kerens.

Win and need help

• Wortham (vs. Hubbard): In with a win and an Italy win, or loss by 6 or less vs. Itasca.

• Hubbard (at Wortham): Win by 14 or more and an Itasca loss to Italy.